Californian soulstress Joy Jones delivers an updated, funky-fresh rendition of Nina Simone‘s 1965 “Be My Husband”. Loving this one!

FREELOAD

Head under the jump to listen to the original by the legendary Nina Simone.

It seems to be a common experience for many of us that our first memories of Stevie Wonder are early ones. That is to say, his contribution to music has been a natural part of the soundtracks to our lives for as long as we can remember – whether it was seeing him perform on Sesame Street, hearing “Do I Do” on the radio or the continuous regeneration as R&B artists and aspiring American Idol singers alike take on “Isn’t She Lovely”, “Knocks Me Off my Feet” and “Overjoyed”.

One of the most sampled artist ever, everyone from MJ, Donny Hathaway and Chaka Khan to Busta Rhymes, G-Unit and Joe, Beyonce, John Legend and Donell Jones have incorporated Stevie’s songs and choruses on their own hit albums, or gladly shared a stage with him. Coolio enjoyed the global success of “Gangsta’s Paradise” using Stevie’s blueprint [in "Pastime Paradise"], as did Mary J Blige and George Michael with “As” and Will Smith with “Wild Wild West” [Stevie - "I Wish"].

His impact on continuous generations of modern musicians – through clear cut cover versions and more subtle influence detectable in the songwriting, phrasing and vocal delivery of others – will continue… forever? It certainly seems that way. I asked a handful of some of the most inspiring artists with soul succeeding at their craft today about the influence Stevie Wonder has had on them.

Read on for a sample of Stevie’s impact on today’s Soul Culture.

R&B lioness Teedra Moses discovered Stevie listening to Hotter Than July; “Every household in my family wore that album out!” she recalls. “Stevie Wonder is one of the most influential artist to me in my music and my life. He is creative, profoundly lyrical, socially aware, unique, self contained…

“He is the ultimate artist we all should aspire to be.”

Favourite song: ‘Girl Blue’ - “I use to think he wrote that for me!”

Uniquely voiced singer-songwriter [and Floetry founder] Marsha Ambrosius recalls, “My Mother played Stevie most of the time,” and has been hooked since she can remember – to the point of performing “These Three Words” at the Barbican in London for a Spike Lee tribute to music in film after her grandmother passed away.

“Stevie opened me up lyrically and melodically.  The marriage between the two define the timeless work he has contributed to a world full of influenced Stevie heads like myself.”

Stevie Highlight: “Where Were You When I Needed U (Superwoman)”

Another ‘Superwoman’ fan is UK emcee and musician TY; “It’s two songs in one and is Brilliant!” ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ also stands out as an early memory for the UK Hip Hop legend. “I think Stevie Wonder has had a tremendous effect on both me and [long time collaborator] Drew as producers,” he comments. “We love what he did with synths…

“I would say Stevie Wonder is the reason we love synths so much!”

Independent soul star Jesse Boykins III was first introduced to Stevie when he heard ‘Ribbon In The Sky’ on the radio, aged 10. “I’d never heard anything like it,” he smiles. “So I had to hear more; I just asked around until someone gave me more of his music.”

“Stevie Wonder has mastered the art of lyrics, songwriting, production & arrangements. He also taught me the importance of a conceptual album; all of his albums flow like a movie.”

Favorite Stevie song of all time: “Visions”

Seattle-based soul singer Choklate has also been most influenced by Stevie, “More than anything the way in which he wasn’t afraid of progressions and drastic key changes.”

She explains, “I always admired the complexities of his compositions. We are in a world where simplicity now rules the musical scene and I love Stevie’s brave approach to chord progressions and his fearlessness with regard to lyrics that challenge one to really listen to hear the words…”

Favourite: ‘Knocks Me Off My Feet’ – “’cause it’s just beautiful. Just beautiful.”

It wasn’t even Stevie Wonder’s music that first caught New York based singer Peter Hadar‘s eye; it was his record covers. “One of the deacons of our church, who was also our DJ, would have Stevie’s albums out and I would sneak a look through them. I would see all of these Stevie Wonder albums that I know would never ever get played in church, which meant that I would not get to hear them. Definitely a situation of purgatory; I would always hear so much about him, never really got the chance to get into his music.”

“I wrote a song that’s on my first album (Memories of the Heart) called “Please” [and] I would say it’s definitely influenced by Stevie. In addition to that, about three years ago, a good musician friend of mind was working with Stevie. My friend called me like three o’clock in the morning telling me he played it for him and he loved it! Barely could finish the session I was in. FLOORED!”

Favourite songs: “Secret Life of Plants” and “Super Woman (Where were you when I needed you)”

Atlanta-based singer, songwriter and musician PJ Morton names Songs In The Key Of Life as his favourite Stevie album, “because my favorite song ‘Summersoft’ is on there..” He adds, “Stevie was the first to really make me pay attention to lyrics and delivery.. He’s had a MAJOR impact on my music.. Before I understood who I was I just followed Stevie..”

Critically acclaimed indie soul singer Yahzarah was introduced to Stevie was through her mother. “She used to sing ‘Isn’t she Lovely’ to me all the time when I was a little thing… his music was always playing in my home,” she remembers. “Stevie is one of the people who taught me the art of story telling and the power of a well written love song… Talking Book‘s ‘Looking for Another Pure Love’ got me through one of the worse break ups ever.”

Favourite album: The Secret Life of Plants – “a record I believe to be one of Stevie’s most beautiful and most slept on records of all time…”

Joy Jones is another member of The Secret Life Of Plants fan club, because the album was “so simple conceptually, but had great depth in terms of content.” She was compelled by the energetic creativity of “Do I Do”: I loved that song, it just sounded like so much fun and so full of life. Stevie’s music is very visceral, when he sings it, you feel it!”

She then became convinced of his “beyond genius” upon studying his music. “He was actually singing melodies and chords that had yet to grace the musical vocabulary. I found that fascinating and it inspired me to find ways to be innovating, yet truthful and soulful.”

“When I first noticed what music was, his albums were the first I noticed,” says Grammy nominated independent artist Eric Roberson. “It’s always been there for me. Stevie Wonder was probably my biggest songwriting teacher when i considered doing music. I have three main influence that I feel crafted the sound and artistry I follow. Stevie Wonder is one of them. He’s just one of the most developed artist ever to do music.”

“Blame It On The Sun” was one of the songs that really taught me about song writing. I love the song because he doesn’t paint himself in a perfect light. We often try to paint ourselves as heroes or victims. that song showed our weaknesses. I learned from that. Plus it’s off Talking Book, my favorite Stevie album.”

Eclectic producer and keyboardist Black Einstein [formerly known as Emmanuel or 'C Swing'] shares Eric’s enthusiasm for “Blame It On The Sun” and Talking Book; “It just struck a nerve with me. I love the lyrics and the music and it suits the subject perfectly about a relationship not working out.”

“His arrangements, chord structures, chord voicings, his approach to music, his business savvy – many, many things about Stevie Wonder influence my career,” he says. “Not being afraid to try things is a very important lesson I take from him.

“His early work with synthesisers at a time when they were just coming to the fore opened up the sound canvas for modern R&B, Soul, Hip Hop etc. He’s ability to emulate sounds on a keyboard such as string sections etc taught me to not stick to stick within the confines of what was expected, i.e, playing a string part on not necessarily a string sound.

“When you start to mess with convention suddenly the musical possibilities become endless.”

Notes:
Download Teedra Moses’ latest mixtape, Royal Patience, here.
Marsha Ambrosius is currently preparing to release her debut solo album on J Records.
TY’s London launch party at London’s Jazz Cafe for his latest album, Special Kind Of Fool, on May 31st.
Jesse Boykins III’s sophomore album, Love Apparatus, is due for release later this year – watch ‘Amorous’.
Watch Choklate’s official video for ‘Grown Folks’.
PJ Morton’s latest album, Walk Alone, is out now – read our interview.
Yahzarah has just released The Ballad Of Purple St James – download sampler.
Look out for Black Einstein‘s David Bowie inspired EP, Whatever Happened To Major Tom?, this summer.

Joy Jones is one of those artists who have seemingly come from nowhere and taken the soul scene by storm. Her debut project, Godchild, has received critical praise from some of the most influential soul magazines, e-zines and blogs on the internet, and is being hailed by many as one of the standout releases of 2009. So, true to the fairytale, did Joy just appear from nowhere? Of course not. As with all the other independent artists making waves at the moment, Joy’s debut is only the tip of a very large iceberg. To get to this point has taken years of hard work and dedication, but now at last Joy is able to reap some of the benefits.

Starting out in her local church choir, it was a move to London to continue her medical studies that really saw Joy take advantage of her god-given talent. She immersed herself in the underground soul scene here in the UK and eventually hooked up with Daz-I-Kue from Bugz In The Attic. A number of collaborations ensued which led to Joy becoming an honorary Ladybug and developing her skills alongside the legendary break-beat crew.

SoulCulture caught up with Joy and asked her a few questions about her new album, about her time spent in London and her eclectic, genre-defying musical style.

For those people out there who are not familiar with you or your music can you answer the question: Who is Joy Jones?
I am a child of God simply trying to find my way in this world , make the most of what has been given me and laugh as much as possible along the way. I am an artist/scientist based in Los Angeles, but more global and intergalactic than not.

Godchild is your first solo project, but you have been making music for some time. Can you tell us a bit about your previous work?
It’s old. Lol!

You’re originally from Trinidad, and you grew up in LA but you have a very strong connection with London. Can you tell us how this came about and what is it about London that appeals to you so much?
I first started recording music when I lived in London after university. I was doing a graduate program in Medical Anthropology by day and linking with artists like TY, Breis, Malika B and Bugz in the Attic by night. Those were the collaborations that really gave me my footing as an artist. I believe that this is why London is so dear to me, it really feels like the place where I began to come into myself. To have arrive in London knowing nobody and to leave as part of a family of artist and a musical community was the most beautiful experience ever!

How would you say the music scene here in the UK compares to the US?
I have always appreciate the creative risks that artist in the UK take and the fact that European culture is much more supporting of the arts in general than in the US. This is why so many black artist from the US usually find their way over to Europe and in some cases stay. In the US we are so fettered by genre, labels and judgement that it can make it difficult to simply create.

When I was in the UK I met so many people who were able to make a living as an artist that I was astounded. In the US, most artist have to work two jobs to support their art, but I actually saw folks paying their rent and taking care of their families as artist and that was very inspiring to me and really validated art as a profession in my eyes.

There are a vast array of sounds and styles on the album, and you have obviously been inspired by many different places and/or people. One of my favourite tracks is your cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Be My Husband’ (which isn’t on the album) – is Nina one of your influences and who else inspired you to make music?
So glad you like that track. I have been an admirer of Nina for years! Not just for her talent and voice, but because she was so unapologetic for who she was! It is her spirit that I loved and her grit! I love jazz singers and composers (Herbie, Miles, Sarah, Ella, Blossom, Anita, Carmen, Thelonius, Alice… name a few). I love James Brown and Fela (I’m convinced that they were from the same tribe).

I love ’80s pop/rock (Police, Duran Duran, Tears for Fears), but I would say that the form of music that has had the greatest influence on my life would have to be gospel. Both of my grandfathers were preachers, so I have been exposed to gospel music all of my life. It is in gospel music that I was able to see how music can change lives and affect people on the deepest of emotional levels. That is what I aim for as a musical artist, to penetrate and deeply touch my listeners.

As well as being a musician you are also a scientist. How do the two careers interact and how does your scientific background impact on your music?
I am very interested in the overlap between art and science and that’s what has been keeping me up lately. I really feel as if art and science are the same thing, but perhaps just on opposite sides of the same creative spectrum, you know? The human body is pure art, down to the cellular level. Music is pure science down to the note and tone. I have realized that I am as much right brain as I am left brain and that for me to be happy I have to constantly stimulate both.

As a child of a West Indian family, I was encouraged to only focus on my education and to look at art as a hobby. Man, that messed me up for years because I felt so crazy and torn between the two worlds. However, now as an adult, I realize that I can create a space for myself to just be who I am. That has been uber-liberating for me. It’s funny, once I made that decision everyone around me was like, ok, go with it. I guess I just needed to get out of my own way.

I know that you are interested in continuing your education, specifically studying psychiatry. Music is often seen as a full-time career, how do you find balancing the two?
Prayer. (smiles) I am not sure what the end of my journey will look like but I know that it is divinely choreographed. I am doing my best to just live in the moment and trust that my gifts will make way for me, you know? In terms of time, the beauty of being an independent artist is that you can put out what you want whenever you want and you create your own time line. So I guess I’ll just have to see. The schooling is the most difficult part to juggle at the moment, but so far, so good.

The independent music scene is often scene as a harsh, difficult and sometimes hostile environment. What is your experience and what would you say to those wishing to pursue a career in music?
My piece of advice is to get out of your own way! If you decide that this is what you want to do then start by investing in yourself. That is the biggest part. Stop waiting to be discovered. Discover yourself! If you think that you are the business, you have a better chance of convincing others that you are as well! It is no secret that this is a tough industry and a daily hustle, but when you decide to do you and trust that things will always work out for your good, it is much easier to navigate.

You have set up your own label, Love Jones Recording, to release this project. Why did you decide to do this rather than releasing through a third party?
Creative control! Godchild was a joint release with Future Soul Records and it has been a fabulous learning experience. Being that it was our first release we thought that this would be the best way to go, however I think that we are ready to properly launch out on our own and I am super excited about the possibilities!

Do you have a personal favourite on the album, or one particular song that has a special place in your heart?
Not really, each song represents an aspect of who I am. Each aspect is as relevant as the next, so I love them all. I feel very proud of this album for that reason.

I see you have fully embraced the internet when it comes to promotion. You are a regular twitter-er, you have your own blog, and you have used the ever-growing blogosphere to spread the word about your music, how important do you think the internet and social media are to an up and coming artist’s success?
It is what fills the gap between independent artist and mainstream artist. It is vital in terms of being able to share your message and establish your voice on a global level. The internet has taught me just how small this planet is and how few degrees of separation divide us. I do think that I am a little it addicted to Twitter and Facebook. Like, I might need an intervention or something! Smiles.

Your album has been getting fantastic reviews from the music press and your album is being touted by many as one of the best of 2009. You have also been short-listed for SoulTracks.com’s ‘New Artist Of The Year’ award. Did you think that the album would be such a critical success?
I really prayed that it would. I have to say that I was most concerned that people wouldn’t get it since I made a concerted effort not to dumb down my music in any way, but the people really got it and have been able to see and hear some of the subtleties of the album as well. That has been incredible for me. My main hope with this album was to be able to speak my mind and establish myself in the musical arena. I am so humbled by all of the great response to this project and ultimately it just confirms that if you trust God and step out on faith with your dreams firmly in hand, that He will take care of the rest. It is the most beautiful gift!

Obviously you are currently busy promoting the album and doing live shows but what does the future hold for Joy Jones?
Love. Laughter. Growth. Music. Bravery. Patience. Thinking. Creativity and lots of Happiness!

Finally, and this is a question I have a very personal interest in, are you planning on coming back to the UK to do any shows in support of Godchild?
Sure! As soon as you send me a ticket, I’m on my way! Lol! I kid. I am looking to come out either the end of this year or early next year. You will be among the first to know.

Find out more about Joy Jones at www.lovejonesrecordings.com | Twitter | Myspace.

By SoulUK

RELATED: Joy Jones’ music video for “Over” // Joy Jones – “Be My Husband” (Nina Simone cover)

Brand new video from Joy Jones! Pretty interesting visually.. “Over” is the second single from her album The Godchild, out now. The video was directed by Coodie & Chike (who were also responsible for Kanye West‘s “Through The Wire” video; ‘Video Of The Year’ winner at The Source Hip Hop Awards) and ‘The Soulful Fundamentalist’ (Keith C. Harris).

Related: FREE DOWNLOAD: JOY JONES – “BE MY HUSBAND” (Nina Simone cover)

Brand new video from Joy Jones! Pretty interesting visually.. “Over” is the second single from her album The Godchild, out now. The video was directed by Coodie & Chike (who were also responsible for Kanye West‘s “Through The Wire” video; ‘Video Of The Year’ winner at The Source Hip Hop Awards) and ‘The Soulful Fundamentalist’ (Keith C. Harris).

Related: FREE DOWNLOAD: JOY JONES – “BE MY HUSBAND” (Nina Simone cover)

Joy Jones. If you haven’t checked out this LA-based singer before, expect masterful Afro-beat lullabies, future jazz/soul, protest songs and electronic hymns from her 2009 album Godchild (Future Soul Records), co-produced by London’s own Daz-I-Kue of soulful broken beat collective Bugz In The Attic.

“I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about what I want to say and the messages I want to put out,” says Joy. “This is a labor of love and I hope that it translates and transforms into a tool for change.”

Click & Save to download a free mp3 of “Be My Husband” - Joy Jones’ version of the Nina Simone classic which originally featured on Pastel Blues (1965).

While we’re at it, here’s the video for single, “The Joy”:

myspace.com/lovejonesrecordings
lovejonesrecordings.com

Thanks: Giant Step